Hardik Pandya is set to travel to Raipur on Thursday evening to link up with the Mumbai Indians squad. While it is not yet confirmed whether he will be fit for the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, people inside the MI setup indicate that his recovery from the back spasms that ruled him out of the previous Wankhede contest versus Lucknow Supergiants is progressing. Pandya’s flight is booked for later on Thursday, and he will head out along with a few other members of the franchise who have not yet made the trip to Raipur. The team is also scheduled to conduct a full-scale training session at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium before the game.
Key takeaways
- Hardik Pandya will fly to Raipur on Thursday night to join the Mumbai Indians group.
- His Sunday availability versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru remains uncertain due to earlier back spasms.
- MI plan for a full training session at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium ahead of the fixture.
- A final call on Pandya’s match participation is expected after he trains in the nets on Friday, May 8.
- There is no plan in place at the moment to make mid-season squad changes, including any decision tied to form.
- Jasprit Bumrah is not currently expected to be rested, and the camp’s present focus is selecting the strongest available XI for the remaining games.
Recovery timeline and the decision process
Mumbai Indians sources say the immediate priority is to monitor Hardik Pandya’s recovery closely. The back spasms that kept him out of the most recent home game at the Wankhede against Lucknow Supergiants were the reason for his absence, and his return path now depends on how he responds to training. Pandya is expected to work in the nets on Friday, May 8, and only after that session will the medical staff—working with Nitin Patel—decide whether he can be included in the playing combination.
Within the camp, there is also described as a degree of disappointment regarding the team’s recent performances. However, any potential alterations to personnel are not expected to be taken on the fly. The stance from inside MI is clear: there will be no decision on changes during the middle of the season, with any such calls planned only after the campaign concludes.
Other selection questions: Suryakumar, Bumrah and the playing XI
Attention is also on Suryakumar Yadav, who recently welcomed a baby girl. At this stage, nothing has been predetermined regarding his role or readiness. The MI management is said to be leaving the final call to the player himself, especially as he captained the side in Pandya’s absence during the May 4 home match. His availability is expected to hinge on whether he feels mentally prepared for the Sunday encounter.
Meanwhile, there has been discussion from some quarters about the possibility of giving Jasprit Bumrah a rest, with the argument that Mumbai Indians have no realistic route to qualify for the playoffs. Despite those suggestions, no decision to rest Bumrah has been taken so far. For now, the camp’s working plan is to field the best possible XI across the remaining fixtures, rather than reshuffling roles based on qualification scenarios.
